The Texans are proud of their 6-1 record that is the best in the AFC and second best in the NFL.

And they should be.

Because they defeated Baltimore (5-2) and own the head-to-head tiebreaker if it becomes necessary in the playoffs, the Texans have at least a two-game lead over every AFC opponent.

“If the season was over right now, it would be wonderful, but it’s not,” owner Bob McNair said during the team’s week off. “We’re really happy, because it’s a great position to be in. But we still have a long way to go.”

Since training camp began in late July, McNair never has deviated from his goal of winning the Super Bowl. But McNair and his coaches and players might find it interesting that only two teams — the 1999 Rams and 2004 Patriots — have started the season 6-1 and won the Super Bowl.

They are two of 26 teams besides the 2012 Texans to start 6-1 since the beginning of the 1999 season.

In each of the previous four seasons, one team has started 6-1, including San Francisco in 2011. The 49ers finished 13-3 and lost the NFC Championship Game to the New York Giants (9-7).

From 1999 through last season, three teams — the 1999 Tennessee Titans (13-3), the 2001 St. Louis Rams (14-2) and the 2003 Carolina Panthers (11-5) — reached the Super Bowl after a 6-1 start but lost.

Between 1991 — the season in which the current playoff format was implemented — and 1998, 13 teams began 6-1. Four won the Super Bowl: the 1997 Denver Broncos (12-4), the 1996 Green Bay Packers (13-3), the 1995 Dallas Cowboys (12-4) and the 1992 Cowboys (13-3).

During that same period, the 1994 San Diego Chargers (11-5), the 1993 Buffalo Bills (12-4) and the 1991 Bills (13-3) lost the Super Bowl after 6-1 starts.

Proving that nothing is guaranteed, six teams that started the season 6-1 since 1991 failed to make the playoffs.

Between 1988 and 2000, there were three seasons in which four teams began 6-1 without any reaching the Super Bowl.

Going back to the merger in 1970 through last season, there have been 13 teams that began 6-1 and continued on to win the Super Bowl.

According to Bovada, the Texans have the best chance of winning Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. Their odds are 5-1. San Francisco (13-2) and New England (13-2) are next, followed by the New York Giants (7-1), Green Bay (15-2), Atlanta (8-1) and Chicago (10-1).

But McNair and his players and coaches aren’t preoccupied with history or numbers. They just want to pick up where they left off when they return from their open date to play Buffalo and defensive end Mario Williams.

“I’m very happy we’re playing as well as we are,” McNair said. “The whole team’s coming together, and I’m proud of them.

“We have a little time to rest. We have some minor injuries (that need) to heal, and we’ll be ready to go again. We just have to keep grinding.”

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle

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Texans strong safety Glover Quin reaches back as he grabs an interception during the second quarter at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Texans strong safety Glover Quin reaches back as he grabs an interception during the second quarter at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle

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Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph heads to the end zone during the second quarter.

Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph heads to the end zone during the second quarter.